Sports
If Aladji Bamba is not Bruno Guimaraes’ replacement at Newcastle United, what is he?
Newcastle United hope that Aladji Bamba will turn out to be a lot of (positive) things for the club — but they insist being Bruno Guimaraes’ prospective replacement is not one of them.
Considering his role and status, the 20-year-old France youth international is more of a Sandro Tonali successor, albeit that is not a tag the club is bestowing upon Bamba either, given his relative inexperience.
As with Newcastle’s first three summer acquisitions, Bamba is young, hungry to succeed, wants to play for the club and has huge growth potential. Whether any of that quartet, who have been acquired for a total of more than £110million ($147m), will be deemed ‘ready’ to start the season opener against Liverpool on August 23 is another question — Bazoumana Toure, the winger, is perhaps the most likely to be in the XI at St James’ Park that Sunday afternoon — but their room for growth is significant.
Critically, patience will be required when it comes to integrating these raw but high-potential signings.
As with Sean Steur, the 18-year-old who has joined from Ajax, Bamba was Tyneside-bound before Newcastle’s interest became public. The club appear pleased that they kept their pursuit of him quiet, with confirmation of a potential deal only arriving once he was already en route to his medical.
Aladji Bamba up against Paris FC’s Ciro Immobile in April (Franck Fife/Getty Images)
Lewis Miley is expected to assume Tonali’s starting role, with those inside the club backing the 20-year-old academy graduate to step up and become a regular starter this season, once he recovers from a broken foot. That should allow Bamba time to acclimatise but, alongside Steur, the Frenchman will become one of the six midfielders Eddie Howe likes to have in his squad.
Newcastle have seven first-team midfielders now, meaning one will likely leave in the weeks to come.
They strongly refute the suggestion that Bamba’s arrival frees up Guimaraes to join Arsenal, given the club captain has communicated his desire to explore a move. But Newcastle have yet to receive a club-to-club bid, and will not welcome one, and there are doubts whether Arsenal could ever get close to making an offer that would even make them consider a sale.
Instead, Joe Willock is the midfielder most likely to follow Tonali out. The 26-year-old is into the final 12 months of his deal and has been earmarked for an exit. Besiktas, the Turkish club, have expressed an interest.
Steur is comfortable playing as a holding No 6 or as a central No 8, so could fill that gap, even if stylistically he is more of a technical creator and Willock is a dynamic runner. Longer term, Steur arguably has the raw attributes to become Guimaraes’ successor, though Newcastle are not considering that for the upcoming campaign, with the idea being that the Dutch teenager will learn from the Brazil international.
Bamba, too, would require understanding and time. He broke into the Monaco side last season but has only made 25 senior appearances and was not a guaranteed starter for the Ligue 1 club: across the 2025-26 campaign, he played just 815 minutes in the French top flight and a further 156 in the Champions League.
The France Under-20 international’s ceiling is extremely high, though, which is why Newcastle have invested another sizeable sum in someone who has only just celebrated his 20th birthday. The total value of the deal could rise to around €40million (£34.1m, $45.6m) with add-ons, though the initial fee is closer to €35m, while Monaco retain a 15 per cent sell-on clause.
Bamba has played for France at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level (Euan Cherry/Getty Images)
In France, there have been obvious comparisons with Paul Pogba — which is unsurprising, given they both play for Monaco and have some similar characteristics. The comparison is far from absolute, however.
Instead, like Tonali, one of Bamba’s strongest traits is his ability to steal possession and act as an engine-room disruptor.
Newcastle were taken by his well-rounded defensive skill set, with his duel-winning ability, pressing capacity and tackling strength all of a high calibre. He is a front-footed defender who actively goes in search of duels if he believes he has a chance of claiming possession.
According to Opta, Bamba won more duels per 90 minutes (9.1) across 2025-26 than any midfielder to play at least 500 minutes in Ligue 1.
Aerially, he is about 6ft (182cm) and is strong at timing his jumps, though his positioning under the ball can improve. While not the quickest, Bamba is technically decent and can protect and carry the ball under pressure.
Of the 196 players in Ligue 1 who attempted 20 or more take-ons last season, Bamba had the eighth-highest success ratio (61 per cent), and won 18 fouls, suggesting he is good at protecting possession and dribbling.
His keenness and ability to be progressive in his passing means Bamba has the potential to be more than merely a midfield ‘destroyer’. Howe does not tend to play with a traditional, deep-lying No 6, but Bamba’s two-footed passing and carrying strength means he has the attributes to progressively build moves once he has stolen possession.
The clip below, from April’s 4-1 defeat against Paris FC, shows Bamba’s eye for a pass and how he maximises his traits.
He positions himself well between the lines, receives with his right foot, quickly switches onto his left and plays a through ball to Folarin Balogun, who scores. To have such proficiency with both feet brings unpredictability and makes it difficult for the opposition to shut down passing channels.
There is room for improvement, with his pass execution or choice of ball requiring refinement. He is capable of moments of brilliance but also of lapses in concentration, which is why too much should not be expected of him too soon.
Bamba will probably begin the campaign on the bench, though how Howe might use him could be fascinating.
For the majority of his almost-five-year tenure, Newcastle’s head coach has deployed a 4-3-3 system with one sitting midfielder, and Bamba could play as that solitary No 6. At the back end of last season however, Howe switched to a 4-2-3-1 to trial Nick Woltemade as an attacking midfielder, so Bamba could be fielded as part of a double pivot in such a setup.
On Saturday, when Newcastle travel to non-League neighbours Gateshead for their opening public pre-season friendly, Howe will speak for the first time about the club’s summer business.
Securing a fourth addition before that warm-up match would provide everyone associated with Newcastle with a boost, though those at the top of the club are keen to point towards how active they have been.
Few Premier League teams have concluded as much business — volume-wise inwards (four signings), or value-wise outwards (up to £170m) — or have reinvested as heavily, while Newcastle insist that, although missing out on two of their top targets were undoubted blows, it has not torpedoed their blueprint because they always had alternatives they were pursuing concurrently.
Sequentially, the narrative of Newcastle’s summer has proven challenging.
How does a World Cup affect the transfer market?
Christopher Hamill
Anthony Gordon and Tonali were sold early for impressive sums, yet Liverpool gazumping them for Victor Munoz and then Aston Villa swooping in to get mutual target Johan Manzambi, just as Guimaraes asking to leave leaked out, spotlighted a short-term weakening of Howe’s starting XI.
Arguably, that has yet to be adequately addressed — Newcastle stress multiple other deals are being worked on — but the need to bring in younger players on lower wages became obvious following the UEFA sanctions and compliance settlement the club reached. Big sales were needed, and a lowering of the squad-cost base was also necessary.
Whether there is a short-term cost to that remains to be seen, with none of the summer signings guaranteed to be in that XI at home against Liverpool in less than a month’s time.
A new No 1 goalkeeper is still desired, though Manchester City’s James Trafford is no longer top of the agenda, while at least one full-back (but ideally more) will be acquired. Whether Newcastle stick rigidly to the policy they have adopted of only signing youth will be interesting to see, though there have been suggestions that an experienced player or two could be brought in.
Contrary to suggestions online, although sporting director Ross Wilson is leading recruitment, Eddie Howe and senior football executive Andy Howe are still heavily involved. The head coach retains the final say on incomings, even if the parameters within which Newcastle are operating this summer have narrowed.
During this window, the club have prioritised promise — and Bamba exemplifies that approach.
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Sports
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto among names on Manchester City’s radar as they formulate list of wing targets – Papers Talk | Football News
The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday’s newspapers…
PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto is understood to be among the names on Manchester City’s radar as they formulate a list of potential wing targets – Daily Mail
Real Madrid have come to the party and are looking to sign RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande – with the Spanish giants ready to outbid PSG and Liverpool – Daily Mirror
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Eddie Howe tells Sky Sports he is still unsure over the future of Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle
Eddie Howe has admitted that he doesn’t know if Newcastle will keep hold of captain Bruno Guimaraes this summer, as speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal gathers pace – Daily Mirror
Manchester United have been given just six days to complete the signing of Roma midfielder Manu Kone, according to reports – Daily Express
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Roma’s Manu Kone and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba are on Manchester United’s shortlist for a third midfield signing this summer
Liverpool’s summer is threatening to be derailed as the Reds have been dealt a transfer hammer blow in their pursuit of Maghnes Akliouche – Daily Star
Manchester City have given Abdukodir Khusanov a new five-year deal after concluding he has all the attributes required to become a world-class central defender – The independent
Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel, 15, scored and assisted for the U21s in a game against Burnley just hours after being named in the first-team squad – The Sun
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL
Argentina president Javier Milei has slammed his country’s ‘jealous’ critics after the shameful scenes that unfolded at the World Cup – Daily Express
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL
A 54-year-old man who was working on the Nou Camp renovation has died, with Barcelona offering their support to his grieving family – Daily Mirror
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Winger Vaclav Cerny is reportedly nearing the Besiktas exit door amid interest from Rangers – Daily Record
Stephen Robinson admitted he needed to ask for permission from Andrew Fasanya’s mum to make the teenager Aberdeen’s youngest debutant – Daily Record
Rangers and USA star Auston Trusty threw the first pitch at a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees – The Scottish Sun
Daizen Maeda signed off on his hugely successful Celtic career with an emotional letter to the club’s fans – The Scottish Sun
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Sports
World Matchplay Darts: Luke Littler demolishes Dirk van Duijvenbode to set up final with Gerwyn Price and pass £3 million in prize money | Darts News
Luke Littler was at his brilliant best in a 17-5 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode to set up a World Matchplay Darts final against Gerwyn Price at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Littler’s statistics continued to astound. He came through the contest with a 110.88 average, 16 180s, and a 50 per cent success rate on the doubles.
Those figures add to an over 113 average and nine-darter against Nathan Aspinall, plus 109 averages against Niko Springer and then Josh Rock in the quarter-finals.
Not only that, Littler has now hit £3m in prize money and there is a £2m gap between himself and Luke Humphries as world No 2.
Littler is looking to become the first player in a decade to go back-to-back in Blackpool, Michael van Gerwen last achieving the feat in 2016.
A Matchplay win is also key to his target of completing a clean sweep of trophies in 2026. He already holds the World Darts Championship, UK Open, Premier League and Masters. He is also defending the Matchplay, Grand Slam, Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals.
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Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen battle it out during their semi-final match at the World Matchplay
Meanwhile, the ‘Iceman’ Price, who has never lifted the Phil Taylor trophy, is back in the Blackpool final for the first time since 2022 when he was defeated 18-14 by Michael van Gerwen.
It is also his first TV ranking final in three years.
While Littler has made more history with becoming the first player to surpass the £3m barrier, he has much more history in his sights, including taking the longest run at world No 1 from Phil Taylor.
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Luke Littler reacted to his World Matchplay semi-final match against Dirk van Duijvenbode.
“I want to stay dominant. I want to keep winning and winning,” Littler told Sky Sports.
“I want to be at the top and I want to beat Phil’s record.
“I want to beat Phil’s record of world No 1 which is three or four years.
“We come back tomorrow and hopefully go back-to-back.”
Littler puts in demolition job to continue title defence
Littler started his semi-final bout in imperious fashion and from then did not slow down. After opening with an 11 and then 12-dart leg to follow, he quickly found himself 4-1 up.
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Dirk van Duijvenbode checked out 146 during his Semi-Final match against Luke Littler
The world No 1 reached even more ridiculous heights in the second session. By the time he was 8-2 up, he was giving Van Duijvenbode no chance thanks to some brutal scoring.
That scoring included seven 180s, 12 140s, just three trebleless visits, and a 117.10 average.
‘The Nuke’ dropped the 11th leg but then romped on to pick up for more in a row, finishing off the third session in style with a 130 checkout (T20, T20, D5). By Littler’s standards, the session was his weakest but even then, he was just 0.9 shy of Taylor’s record Matchplay average of 114.99.
Littler’s acceleration towards Cup collection day meant he was 16-4 up when a break arrived, needing one leg to cement his spot in another major final.
However, some poor doubling meant Van Duijvenbode pushed the match into the 22nd leg, Littler missing five match darts.
In that final leg, Littler got the crowd to their feet with back-to-back maximums and after setting up tops after 12 darts, he pinned it for the dominant win.
Price takes back top spot in Wales and is ready for Matchplay glory
Price booked his spot in the World Matchplay final with a 17-10 victory over Gian van Veen.
The win moves Price up to the world No 4 spot and also sees him take Welsh No 1 back from Jonny Clayton.
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Gerwyn Price reaches the World Matchplay final after defeating Gian van Veen
“Jonny Clayton – I am more happy to be Wales’ No 1- come on,” Price told Sky Sports.
“It is bragging rights. Clayton has been Welsh No 1 for about a year-and-a-half but I am back!
“The first six months of this season I have been playing really well.
“To reach a final I am happy but the ranking, top four, one up on my buddy Jonny.”
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Gerwyn Price reflects on his dominant World Matchplay semi-final win against Gian van Veen
It was an early and a late surge that helped Price power past Van Veen with the outer ring frustrating both players in patches. The first session went all the way of the Welshman as he found two breaks of throw and a silky 125 checkout in the fifth leg to canter into a 4-1 lead.
World No 3 Van Veen did make sure to hit back and with three legs on the spin, he managed to bring the score to 6-4. A run of five breaks of throw in a row followed, after which Price had a 10-7 advantage.
The fifth session is when Price then really turned the screw, his signature ‘booyah’ celebration coming out after every big dart. Averaging over 111, Price rattled off four legs in a row and eventually took out tops for the 27th and decisive leg.
What’s next?
Sunday afternoon sees the fifth edition of the Women’s World Matchplay, live from 1pm on Sky Sports Action, with Lisa Ashton returning as defending champion and Beau Greaves looking to win the event for a third time in four years.
The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay final takes place later that evening, with Luke Littler facing Gerwyn Price in a best-of-35-leg contest.
Who will win this year’s World Matchplay Darts? Live coverage begins on Sunday from 7.30pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event, with the final getting under way around 8.15pm. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
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Sports
Super League: In-form Leigh close in on top four with victory against Warrington as Huddersfield end 12-game wait for win | Rugby League News
In-form Leigh saw off Warrington 28-12 to close in on the top four in the Betfred Super League.
The Leopards, chasing a fifth straight win, made a fast start at Leigh Sports Village as David Armstrong stretched over in the corner and Lachlan Lam then finished off a sweeping counter-attack to touch down under the posts and give the home side a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes.
Adam Cook slotted over a 27th-minute penalty following an obstruction before the Wolves responded when Toafofoa Sipley powered through to reduce the deficit just after the half-hour.
Cook pulled another penalty attempt wide from the right, but Leigh then added a third try when Innes Senior was sent over in the corner down the left to take a 16-6 lead into the break.
Leigh saw Josh Charnley sent to the sin bin early in the second half following a high tackle on Toby King. Warrington then had Leon Hayes shown a yellow card in the 51st minute for a dangerous challenge on Owen Trout.
Joe Ofahengaue barged through to give Leigh a fourth try in the 53rd minute, with Cook kicking the extras and then landing another penalty to make it 24-6.
Umyla Hanley cut through the visiting defence to further extend the lead on the hour before winger Albert Hopoate got in down the right corner for Warrington’s second try with 10 minutes left.
Leigh, though, saw out the closing stages, with Senior’s late score in the corner chalked off for a forward pass, to continue their push towards the top four. They are now level on 26 points with Warrington, who have played a match less.
Leopards head coach Adrian Lam praised the way his side came through, despite having to make changes during the match because of injuries.
“I thought we were resilient today and hung in there and played really well,” said Lam, who confirmed Frankie Halton suffered a suspected torn pectoral muscle which could rule him out for the rest of the season.
“The first half was awesome and we left some tries out there as well, but I though we were physical and we were up for it.”
Warrington boss Sam Burgess felt his team deserved more.
“It is one of those games. I thought the scoreline probably didn’t reflect the game or how tight the game was,” Burgess said on Sky Sports.
“In that second half I thought we started with great spirit. We just couldn’t get any points.”
Lolohea inspires Giants to rare victory
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Highlights of Huddersfield Giants’ 24-22 victory over York Knights as they survived a dramatic late fightback to end a 12-match losing run
Tuimoala Lolohea starred as bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield ended their 12-game wait for a Super League victory with a nervy 24-22 win at York.
The sides cancelled each other out in a tight opening at a blustery LNER Community Stadium, although Tom Inman thought he had given the Knights an eighth-minute lead after Cody Hunter’s show and go and delayed pass, but a review showed he had grounded the ball short under pressure from George Flanagan.
However, they did go ahead within two minutes when Paul McShane’s speculative kick was allowed to bounce in goal and David Nofoaluma pounced to touch down, Jon Bennison adding the conversion.
Mathieu Cozza passed up an opportunity to drag the Giants back into it with 20 minutes gone when he spilled the ball over the line, but winger Lewis Jagger’s neat footwork and strength took him over within six minutes to reduce a deficit which Flanagan eradicated with the conversion.
Flanagan saw a 34th-minute try chalked off for obstruction by Connor Wrench on Nikau Williams during the build-up and the half finished all square at 6-6.
The visitors went in front seven minutes into the second half when Lolohea chased down his own kick ahead and got the touch as he and defender Toa Mata’afa dived in, Flanagan’s kick making it 12-6.
York were back in it again when Scott Galeano forced his way over in the corner for an unconverted try, but Lolohea put Wrench in and Flanagan added the two points to give Huddersfield breathing space.
They increased their lead to 24-10 when Flanagan converted a sniping Zac Woolford score, but Jordan Thompson and Inman both crossed in quick succession, with Bennison taking the home side to within two points as a dramatic fightback came up just short.
Catalans hold on for derby win away to Toulouse
Tommy Makinson scored two tries as Catalans Dragons ended a four-match losing run with a scrappy 18-16 win away to Toulouse.
On a rain-soaked evening at Stade Ernest-Wallon, John Cartwright’s side turned the tables on their French rivals following a 60-18 drubbing on Magic Weekend.
Makinson collected a high kick a Toby Sexton and used the soggy conditions to skid over the line in the 14th minute after Toulouse took an early lead through Jake Shorrocks’ penalty.
Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet then weaved his way over on the stroke of half-time before adding his second conversion to move the visitors 12-2 in front.
In-form Toulouse had won their previous three fixtures this month.
The hosts hit back 11 minutes into the second period when Romeo Tropis raced on to Benjamin Laguerre’s pass to cross wide on the left.
Makinson claimed his second with 13 minutes remaining following another fine assist from the impressive Sexton.
Shorrocks’ second penalty of the game cut the deficit before Aispuro-Bichet’s late penalty at the other end kept the home team at arm’s length, prior to a last-gasp converted try from Toulouse’s Joe Cator.
2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for
- Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
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Chelsea winger Pedro Neto among names on Manchester City’s radar as they formulate list of wing targets – Papers Talk | Football News
World Matchplay Darts: Luke Littler demolishes Dirk van Duijvenbode to set up final with Gerwyn Price and pass £3 million in prize money | Darts News
Super League: In-form Leigh close in on top four with victory against Warrington as Huddersfield end 12-game wait for win | Rugby League News
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